Tottenham foursome prepare for semi-final, but Winks afforded rest
England's Harry Kane (centre) scores his side's second goal of the game during the Nations League, Group A4 match against Croatia (pic: Nick Potts/PA). - Credit: PA Archive/PA Images
England are two wins away from winning the Nations League, but may have to get past the Netherlands without Liverpool and Spurs players
For Spurs players Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Eric Dier and Danny Rose, the frustration of losing 2-0 to Liverpool in the Champions League final on Saturday has not been able to fester for too long.
Days later they were back on the training field after reporting for England duty and it again highlights how in future, the showpiece event in the European Cup must be played earlier than the start of June.
Kane, Alli, Dier and Rose have all shifted their focus to international football again and have another chance of silverware this week.
England will take on the Netherlands this evening in the semi-finals of the Nations League looking to book a spot in the final against Portugal on Sunday.
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Although the aforementioned Tottenham players all featured against Liverpool, there seems a high percentage none of them will start tonight.
It could be the case for Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez and Jordan Henderson too despite playing against Spurs in Madrid.
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Gareth Southgate will be wary of the effect bringing players who haven't been part of the group until the middle of this week into the team and the impact it could have.
Regardless, plenty of them will make up the bench and they could still be decisive as a substitute against Holland.
Two Englishmen for Spurs, Kieran Trippier and Harry Winks, are not in Guimaraes with the Three Lions.
Winks can count himself unlucky after a good showing in the Champions League final, but right-back Trippier can have no complaints.
The Bury-born defender has struggled for form since his impressive World Cup and it looks a long way back for him to get into Southgate's squad again.
For Winks, this must be viewed as a positive with the talented midfielder set to have a summer of rest for the first time in a while.
Last pre-season, he was involved in rehab and hopefully now he can recuperate after a successful - but at times disjointed - campaign and come back raring to go for Spurs, eager to be a key part of Pochettino's team and then England's.
